Magnetic head/support assembly and access mechanism for a disk file

Abstract

A magnetic head/support assembly 10 for assembly into the data access mechanism 70 of a magnetic disk file comprises a magnetic head element 12 and a support structure 11, 20, 21 for the head element. The head/support assembly also comprises a head lead locator 27 including a frame 51 for locating and terminating the leads 15 from the head element 12 remotely from the element. The locator is attached to the support structure and the leads extend across the frame and are retained in fixed spaced apart relationship over a sufficient portion of their lengths to permit direct electrical connection to a correspondingly spaced pattern of conductors on external data channel circuitry carried by the access mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A magnetic head support assembly comprising at least one magnetic head element for reading information from and writing information on a magnetic record disk of a magnetic disk file;   support means mounted in such disk file for supporting said magnetic head element in transducing relationship with the magnetic record disk;   a plurality of electrical connector, head leads for carrying information signals to or from said magnetic head element; and   head lead locating means for locating the head leads remotely from the element and at which the head leads are terminated for electrical connection to external circuitry,   said head lead locating means including a frame attached to said support means across which the leads extend and are retained in fixed relationship over a sufficient portion of their lengths to permit direct electrical connection of said portions to a correspondingly spaced pattern of conductors of said external circuitry,   said support means including a relatively rigid member, a flexure rigidly mounted on said member and a slider mounted on the flexure at the end remote from said member, the magnetic head element being mounted on said slider, the head lead locating means comprising a mounting portion connected to the frame by a hinge portion clamped to said member, and   said flexure comprises a metal leaf that also forms a clamp for clamping said mounting portion to said member.   
     
     
       2. A magnetic head/support assembly as in claim 1 wherein said head leads pass through a head lead tube and said clamp also serves to clamp said head lead tube to said mounting portion. 
     
     
       3. A magnetic head/support assembly as in claim 2 wherein said frame is formed with latching posts which are received in complimentarily shaped apertures of a rigid circuit support for said external circuitry. 
     
     
       4. A magnetic head/support assembly as in claim 3 wherein said head element, slider and flexure share a common rigid member with a second head element, slider and flexure, said frame also being common to the head leads from both said head elements. 
     
     
       5. A data access mechanism for a disk file comprising at least one magnetic head/support assembly as in claim 4, and   a movable carriage on which said assembly is mounted for movement relative to the disks,   said rigid circuit support member also being mounted on said carriage and supporting data channel circuit components and a conductor pattern to which said components are mounted and connected,   said frame and head locating means of said at least one head/support assembly being registered with a corresponding portion of said circuit support member and the connection portions of said head leads being electrically connected to corresponding portions of the conductor pattern.   
     
     
       6. A data access mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein said circuit support member is provided with registration apertures and the frame of the magnetic head/support assembly has corresponding latching posts for engaging said registration apertures. 
     
     
       7. A magnetic head/support assembly comprising: at least one magnetic head element for reading information from and writing information on a magnetic record disk of a magnetic disk file;   support means mounted in such disk file for supporting said magnetic head element in transducing relationship with the magnetic record disk;   a plurality of electrical connector leads for carrying information signals to or from said magnetic head element; and   lead locating means for locating leads remotely from the had element and at which the leads are terminated for electrical connection to a spaced pattern of conductors of external circuitry, said lead locating means including a frame having at least one opening therein, said frame attached to said support means, each of said leads having a connection portion spanning an opening and retained in fixed spaced relationship from the other leads to permit direct electrical connection of each of said connection portions to the correspondingly spaced pattern of conductors of said external circuitry.   
     
     
       8. A magnetic head/support assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which the opening exposes each connection portion of said leads from two opposed directions. 
     
     
       9. A magnetic head/support assembly as in claim 1 in which said frame is substantially rectangular with a single opening across which said connection portions extend, two opposite edges of said frame each having a plurality of guide slots for guiding respective leads. 
     
     
       10. A magnetic head/support assembly as in claim 9 in which the ends of the leads are trapped and retained by said guide slots on one edge of said frame, said guide slots on the opposite edge serving merely to guide the leads, the frame including a strain relief post adjacent said opposite edge around which the leads are wound to maintain tension. 
     
     
       11. A magnetic head/support assembly as in claim 9 in which said support means comprises a relatively rigid member, a flexure fixedly mounted on said member and a slider mounted on the flexure at an end remote from said member, the magnetic head element being mounted on said slider, the lead locating means comprising a mounting portion connected to the frame by a hinge portion being clamped to said member. 
     
     
       12. A magnetic head/support assembly as in claim 11 wherein the frame is formed with latching posts for locating in complimentarily shaped apertures of a rigid circuit support member for such external circuitry. 
     
     
       13. A magnetic head/support assembly as in claim 12 wherein said head element, slider and flexure share said support means with a second head element, slider and flexure, said frame also being common to the leads from both head elements. 
     
     
       14. A data access mechanism for a disk file comprising at least one magnetic head/support assembly as in claim 7, and   a movable carriage on which said assembly is mounted for movement relative to the disks,   said rigid circuit support member also being mounted on said carriage and supporting data channel circuit components and a conductor pattern to which said components are mounted and connected,   said frame and lead locating means of said at least one head/support assembly being registered with a corresponding portion of said rigid circuit support member and the connection portions of said leads being electrically connected to corresponding portions of the spaced pattern of conductors of said external circuitry.   
     
     
       15. A data access mechanism as in claim 14 wherein said rigid circuit support member is provided with registration pertures and the frame of the magnetic head/support assembly has corresponding latching posts for engaging said registration apertures.